Dark Quest

"Impressive," Egam declared.  "You will have to share this with me before I leave."

"That and more, Egam."  Jenneva led the way into the laboratory.  "I've been spending a lot of time on the theories of Universes.  I wonder where Sarac is and if he has the capability to return here.  His library is quite extensive, but the information regarding Universes is inadequate.  From the reading that I have done, the Origin Scroll seems to be a fairly benign spell.  According to the theory, parallel universes exist in a sort of onionskin arrangement.  It is as if the geological features of planets transcend all layers of the onion.  In other words, each layer or skin of the onion would appear geologically the same to a person who had switched layers.  Life in the different layers could be dissimilar, though.  The Origin Scroll, when used to destroy a universe, peels a layer off of the onion.  I believe the life forces drop through to the next layer with no feeling of movement."

"You mean that the layers are like another dimension, such as time?" Egam questioned.

"Yes.  Time may even be the distinction.  I don't know, but it does indicate that the destruction of a Universe does not necessarily mean the end of life in that Universe," she explained.

Egam pondered this revelation for several moments before speaking.  "That might explain the sudden discovery of other races.  The elves, for example, appear to be a much older race than man; yet in some old manuscripts where you might expect mention of them, there is no reference.  If our whole civilization was suddenly dropped into their world, they would appear to be a mystery just uncovered."

"Yes, and the same would be true if they were suddenly dropped into our Universe," she continued.  "The geological land would be familiar to both races, but at some point in time, their histories would be different."

Egam began to see where this was heading.  "So, Sarac may be entirely alone in his Universe or he may be in the company of some race we have no knowledge of."

Jenneva nodded.  "The information that I have cannot answer the question, but it leads me to believe that the Universe created by the spell does not have to be a new Universe.  I mean . . .  it would be new to the realm of Universes, but it could be created with a history already intact.  And, if the history is already intact, then there is reason to believe that life forms can already exist there."

"Jenneva, if what you say is true, why can't we utilize some transportation spell to traverse across Universes?"

Jenneva was obviously excited.  "Exactly, Egam.  That's why I'm so excited about your doors! If we can construct a portal across a great distance, it would seem logical that some variation should be able to allow us to cross layers of the Universe."

"Yes, but when we do, we had better be ready for Sarac," Egam stated.

"Well, we have an awful lot of work to do between now and then; besides, we would have to figure out how to get one of your Doors there, first."

"Yes, Jenneva, we do.  On a different topic . . .  why does Shanor call me Master Egam?"

"Shanor was a very frightened little girl when I found her.  She reminded me of myself when I stumbled into your cave.  I told her stories about how you took care of me and became my Master, teaching me all that you knew.  She is thrilled to actually meet my Master.  She believes that I saved her life and that you saved mine.  I'm afraid I have encouraged her in this area because it gives her hope and I feel that hope is what she needs most right now.  She can see that I survived my ordeal to become a young lady and she knows that she will persevere, as well."